03/06 - Inside-right Archibald Livingstone moves to Bury for £500. In three seasons at the club he made 33 appearances and scored 5 goals.
07/06 - Inside-right Harry Clifton signs from Chesterfield for £8,500; it is the highest fee that they have ever received. Clifton was leading scorer in Division 2 last season and scored 30 in all games and recently accompanied the England team on their German tour. Several First Division clubs were interested in him. Manager Mather had been told by the directors that an inside forward must be secured before the start of the season. An idol at Chesterfield, Harry is a workmanlike, constructive inside-forward. He is remarkably keen-witted and self-assured and his gift of repartee has to be heard to be appreciated.
08/06 - Gateshead sign Hughie Gallacher.
10/06 – United complete negotiations with Grimsby for the signing of Charles Craven (inside left) but Manchester United are also interested. It will be left to the player to decide which side he joins.
11/06 - Craven is signed by Manchester United for £8,000.
11/06 - The asking price for Bill Imrie has been reduced from £2,500 to £1,500.
20/06 – The annual report and balance sheet is published. A profit of £2,144 was made leaving a total credit balance £5,479. The chairman states it is regrettable to report the most unsatisfactory playing season in the history of the club despite the continued but unavailing efforts to strengthen the team. The directors extend their congratulations to their vice chairman (Mr G. F. Rutherford) on his election to the Football League Management Committee. Messrs W. McKeag and G. Stanley Seymour have been nominated for the Board. Reference is also made to the resignation in August of last year of Mr T. Oliver, which was accepted.
23/06 - Norman Smith, the former Sheffield Wednesday and Huddersfield Town right half, is appointed trainer-coach to Newcastle United.
27/06 – United have been in negotiations for some time to sign Nottingham Forest's Irish international centre-forward Martin, but the talks have broken down.
29/06 – Bill Imrie moves to Swansea. He joined United in March 1934 as United attempted to (unsuccessfully) stave off relegation. He took over as captain and became a popular figure on Tyneside. A tall, robust and skilful player, but has an inclination to go upfield and lose position. He made 128 appearances, scoring 24 goals.
29/06 – The AGM is held and an explanation of the club’s poor display last season is provided. A small profit was made, but only because of incoming transfer fees; they would have preferred to have seen a big loss and got players needed. The main feature was a lengthy and highly critical address by shareholder Mr W McKeag; some excerpts follow. "There can no doubt that the playing experiences of last season can only be described as utterly and completely deplorable. Surely at no time in the whole life of the club has there been such a monotonous succession of poor displays on the field, of miserable ineptitude fumbling and foozing, and lack of cohesion and concerted action.”
31/07 - United sign Middlesbrough outside-right Ralph Birkett. He joined Middlesbrough from Arsenal in 1935 and was capped for England against Ireland in 1936. He is a progressive and goal scoring wingman, but was afflicted by a series of leg injuries last season and lost his place to Milne. The fee is believed to be between £40-50,000.
02/08 - The Newcastle players report back for pre-season training at Cowgate. New trainer Norman Smith has his own ideas and is a firm believer in teamwork as the secret of success; something that was badly missing during the last campaign.
11/08 - The players take part in a bowls match at Summerhill Green, Winchester Terrace.
12/08 - A meeting takes place in Newcastle to discuss Sunderland director John Cochrane's proposal to form a midweek League for the leading clubs in the North East. Officials from Sunderland, Darlington, Gateshead, Hartlepools, Carlisle and South Shields attend; Middlesbrough and Newcastle have already turned down the idea.
12/08 - Stan Seymour and Tom Mather travel to Scotland to take in the game between Hearts and Third Lanark at Cathkin Park and to hold talks with Third Lanark regarding right-full-back Carabine. United are believed to have offered £6,500, but the Scots want £10,000. Another director - Bennie - is at Firhill Park to see Thistle’s McKennan, but the Scots do not wish to sell.
20/08 - Fr: Gateshead 1 Newcastle 2 - Former favourites (and veterans) Hughie Gallacher and Albert Mclnroy are in the Gateshead team beaten by United in what is one of many games played across the country in aid of the Jubilee Benevolent Fund.
27/08 - United great Colin Veitch dies in Switzerland after a short illness.
27/08 - D2: Newcastle 2 Plymouth 1 - Despite last season’s near disaster, the 38,000 attendance is the second best in the country. Before the game the crowd stands bareheaded in memory of Veitch. Mather admits that he "was relieved by the final whistle" as United successfully withstand a late barrage from their visitors who were unlucky not to get a draw.
30/08 - Newcastle receive a wire informing them that Veitch has been cremated in Switzerland.
31/08 - D2: Luton 2 Newcastle 1 - United are poor in a disappointing reverse.
03/09 - D2: Sheff. Utd 0 Newcastle 0 - The home side monopolise the play for the first twenty minutes but are weak in front of goal. Newcastle start to get a foothold, but the defences prevail. Both sides are guilty of passing up decent opportunities.
The club officially deny that they are interested in Stanley Mathews who has requested a transfer.
07/09 - D2: West Brom 5 Newcastle 2 - Everything goes wrong against the Throstles. Park is carried off after only 18 minutes and just after the break the concussed Swinburne has to go off too with the already limping Clifton having to take over in goal. The visitors earn the applause of the home crowd for their plucky display.
10/09 - D2: Newcastle 3 Burnley 2 - A great first-half sees United beat the table-toppers.
12/09 - Newcastle sign Aberdeen's reserve centre-forward William Scott after he impressed United officials in the reserve game last Saturday. He is a native of Aberdeen and is 21-years-old, 5' 9" and 12 stone. He joined the club from junior football in 1935 and has made 28 first-team appearances and scored 7 goals. The fee is believed to be in the region of £3,500.
14/09 - D2: Newcastle 5 West Brom 1 - Cairns scores four as United completely outclass the Throstles. The scoreline could have been even more emphatic if keeper Adams (who saved a Mooney penalty) had not played so brilliantly.
14/09 - Colin Veitch's ashes are scattered in the garden of Remembrance at Newcastle Crematorium. The Clarion Choir sing his favourite song, "The Long Day Closes". Veitch had been associated with the choir for over twenty years and many of them are in tears.
17/09 - D2: Tottenham 1 Newcastle 0
United are unlucky not to get a draw as their craft matches Tottenham's speed, but despite having the greater of the play and being more thrustful in attack United are beaten by a penalty.
24/09 - D2: Newcastle 1 Southampton 0
Gordon breaks his leg after only ten minutes, but despite being a man down (and two-men down for a short period), United deservedly win through a Cairns goal just before half-time.
The Magpies' offside game catches Coventry on numerous occasions, but when MacDonald beats it he can simply walk the ball into the net.
01/10 - New signing Scott becomes the latest broken leg victim during the Central league match. He has just returned from a two-week layoff due to a severe kick on his ankle.
07/10 - United are after a young goalkeeper and they are believed to be interested in Jack Fairbrother of Preston.
08/10 - D2: Newcastle 4 Nottm. Forest 0 - tbc
A total of £18 12s and 4d has been raised for the Northumberland FA Benevolent Fund (for injured players) from the practice games of numerous clubs. Newcastle's contribution was £6 10s.
15/10 - D2: Newcastle 5 Tranmere 1 - Cairns scores three more as United - who are much the better all round team - make light work of bottom placed Tranmere. He is the top scorer in the country.
21/10 - Newcastle have not given up on signing Grimsby custodian Tweedy even though their enquiries have had a cool reception so far.
22/10 - D2: West Ham 1 Newcastle 1 - United have only won once at Upton Park since the War and they have to settle for a draw in an entertaining game in which both sides defend magnificently.
26/10 - Rowlands Gill inside-left Frederick Austin Drake signs professional forms.
The Football League sanction a benefit for Tapken.
29/10 - D2: Newcastle 1 Bradford 0 - Newcastle have more of the play but the visitors have more shots on goal. With minutes remaining a brilliant run from Denmark sets up Cairns to head in the winner. Straight after the game Denmark is sent home to bed with a fever brought on by tonsillitis. The win takes Newcastle into second place, a couple of points behind Fulham.
01/11 - Newcastle continue their squad strengthening by buying Leeds' reserve centre-half Dominic Kelly. He has been at Leeds three years but only made five appearances last season and Holley has kept him out the side this campaign. He is 21-years-old, just over six-foot-tall and weighs 13 stone.
02/11 - Wright is selected for the England side to take on Norway at St. James' next week. Although it is not uncommon for a "home" player to be included, the half-back's play this season has been worthy of an international call-up. Bowden is selected as a reserve.
03/11 - The Magpies swoop for another young half-back as 21-years-old George Bradley joins from Rotherham United. He joined Rotherham from a local junior club last year and has been attracting the interest of a number of clubs.
05/11 - Having failed to persuade Grimsby to part with their first-choice custodian Tweedy, United agree to sign their reserve Clarence "Cam" Theaker. United were desperate to have him play in the Central League today so Grimsby manager Charlie Spencer agreed to drive up last night. They did not arrive until 2am this morning and the signing was not completed until 3am. The delay was caused because Spencer initially could not find Theaker and then – after they had set off - the keeper realised he had forgotten his boots. His footwear was at Grimsby's ground and - with no keys – the dynamic duo had to scale the gates and then force the lock to get into the training headquarters.
05/11 - D2: Sheff. Wed. 0 Newcastle 2 - A first home defeat for Wednesday and a first victory on the road for United. There is little to choose between the sides for most of the game but Cairns scores twice in as many minutes during a short period of United dominance after the break.
08/11 - The Norwegian national team and almost two hundred supporters arrive in England and do some preparation work at Whitley Bay. The England team are based at the Grand Hotel in Tynemouth and take part in a short practice game at North Shields' Appleby Park. The public are allowed in to watch and there is some good natured banter between players and spectators.
09/11 - The English team are far too good for the amateurs from Norway and win with four first-half goals.
12/11 - D2: Newcastle 2 Fulham 1 - The biggest crowd of the day sees United deservedly beat the leaders and take over at the top of the table.
16/11 - With right full back Joe Richardson having picked up an injury against Fulham the directors are frantically trying to sign a new back in time for Saturday's game at Blackburn. Bids for Clarke of Manchester City and Griffiths of Manchester United are both knocked back.
17/11 – Newcastle sign Huddersfield full-back Benny Craig after protracted negotiations. Craig is a native of Leadgate and was a former pit lad and he joined Huddersfield from Eden Colliery in 1934. He is 22-years-old, 5' 8" and 11 stone and played 26 games last season. He has made only one appearance this season but he is a stylish, daring player with a marked positional instinct and tackling which does not lack bite. He will not link up with the rest of the team until the match on Saturday.
19/11 - D2: Blackburn 3 Newcastle 0 - United have lost their last five games at Ewood Park and with Clarke netting a hat-trick they are soundly beaten again in what is a tough debut for Benny Craig.
22/11 - George Craig, Ivan Simpson and their mother (Mary Ellen Craig) of Westgate Road are remanded in custody. The men are charged with breaking in and entering Tom Mather's house on Kenton Road (Gosforth) last Friday and stealing clothes and football medals to the value of £58 10s. Their mother is charged with receiving stolen goods.
26/11 - D2: Newcastle 2 Millwall 2 - United are pegged back twice as they are held by a Millwall side which plays with a level of speed and craft that unsettles the Magpies.
27/11 - The directors send a squad of nineteen players to Cleveleys to recuperate from the strenuous set of games that they have just played and to prepare for the arduous Christmas schedule.
28/11 - Arthur Mann, Wallsend St. Luke's inside-right, signs amateur forms for Newcastle, he is 18-years-old, 5' 9" and 10st 7lb.
29/11 - At the Moot Hall Police Court the mother and sons charged with the robbery at Mather's house are refused bail and remanded in custody for another week. Detective Eckford states that they have recovered £100 of stolen property at their house on Westgate Road.
03/12 - D2: Man. City 4 Newcastle 1 - After a poor start City are playing as well as any team in the division and they are far too good for United who have Swinburne to thank for keeping the score down to four.
07/12 - Following "incidents" at the Bradford home game the FA order Newcastle to post warning notices around the ground and in the next four home programmes. The spectator who caused the trouble at that match is to be refused admission to the ground for the rest of the season.
10/12 - D2: Newcastle 6 Bury 0 - Struggling Bury have lost seven of their nine away matches so far and Mooney and Clifton both net hat-tricks as United saunter home.
12/12 - It is revealed that the recently deceased Father Adrian English, Superior of Dominican House Cambridge, was invited to sign professional forms with Newcastle when he was seventeen.
13/12 - The grandstand at Swansea's Vetch Field is damaged by fire; United are due there on Saturday and it is not known whether this will have any impact on the game.
17/12 - D2: Swansea 0 Newcastle 1 - tbc
18/12 - The Newcastle party travel down to Plymouth where they will spend the majority of their time recuperating. Their main pursuits will be walking, golf and resting and they also plan to take in a visit to Devon County Billiard Club.
21/12 - Manchester United are after a new goalkeeper following Breen's mishap and they have agreed terms with Newcastle for the purchase of Tapken. However, although Tapken is keen on the move, there is a hitch because the player is not happy with the amount of benefit payment the club are offering; claiming that he was promised more.
22/12 - Tapken agrees to move to Manchester United with the fee believed to be £850. A native of Wallsend he joined in 1933 and has made 107 appearances.
24/12 - D2: Plymouth 0 Newcastle 1
Plymouth (14th) - Home Park - 17,861 - Mooney gives United the lead after only three minutes and although the home side hold the balance of play they cannot break United's resistance.
26/12 - United make the long trek to Norwich but heavy snowfall causes the match to be postponed half an hour before kick-off.
27/12 - D2: Newcastle 4 Norwich 0 - Mooney and Clifton both score twice against struggling Norwich but the visitors played well apart from their shooting and did not deserve to lose so heavily.
30/12 - Clifton collapses in the dressing room after training. It is believed it is a muscular problem brought on by the extreme cold weather during the game at Plymouth. The directors have decided against going away for special training for the FA Cup match with Brentford as promotion is the priority.
31/12 - D2: Newcastle 0 Sheff. Utd. 0 - Sheffield United have the same points as Newcastle and have won over half their away matches. The straw was swept off the pitch in the morning and with the sun shining the ground is very soft in places. And to make matters worse the ground starts to harden again in other parts when the sun goes down. Although neither side scores it is a thrilling game played on a frozen hard ground.
02/01 - D2: Newcastle 0 Chesterfield 1 - The Magpies lose at home for the first time in a shock defeat. Both teams play with a rare enthusiasm despite the very heavy ground, but United struggle to impose themselves and have to play half the game with ten men after Denmark fractures an eye bone.
04/01 - Reserve left-full-back Hepplewhite moves to Horden Colliery Welfare.
05/01 - At the Northumberland Quarterly Sessions the men charged with breaking into Tom Mather's house are found guilty. George Craig (who has a long record of offences) is sentenced to three years penal servitude and Ivan Simpson to eighteen months hard labour. Their mother - Mary Ellen Craig - is found not guilty of receiving stolen goods.
06/01 - United play Brentford tomorrow and in a novel approach the United players are allowed to spend the night in London as they wish although Norman Smith has made it clear they must respect training rules.
07/01 - FA R3: Brentford 0 Newcastle 2 - The pitch is in a terrible state, the ground is so muddy that the goalmouths have been covered in peat. The Londoners start well but United take the lead just before the break and this has a demoralising effect upon them.
14/01 - D2: Burnley 2 Newcastle 0 - tbc
17/01 - The Newcastle party make the long trip to Porthcawl to prepare for the Cup game. They set off from Newcastle on The Silver Jubilee and The Great Western Railway Company have kindly agreed to make an unscheduled stop at the tiny wayside station of Pyle to cut 90 minutes off the journey.
18/01 - The weather in South Wales is awful so United do their training at an indoor roller skating rink. The players change at the hotel and then run through the driving rain to the rink. Manager Mather is not too bothered about the arrangements as this week is mainly about "rest and relaxation". They are also offered honorary membership of two golf clubs and attend a dance in the evening.
19/01 - United do light training on the beach in the morning followed by a game of golf after lunch.
20/01 - The agenda today is a couple of leisurely walks.
21/01 - FA R4: Cardiff 0 Newcastle 0 - United have three "goals" ruled out for offside in a hard fought encounter against their Third Division adversaries who played some excellent football against the faster paced Magpies.
23/01 - The United party travels from Porthcawl to Hexham Hydro where they will remain until Wednesday morning.
24/01 Despite objections from the police, Newcastle magistrates grant an application for a two-hour extension of the licensing hours (from 4pm to 6pm) for tomorrow's afternoon cup tie. The application from Mr. Forster argues that with a large crowd expected "it is desirable in the interests of good order that the crowds be off the streets as quickly as possible”.
24/01 - The overnight train contains 210 Cardiff supporters and scores more are travelling by road.
25/01 - FA R4r: Newcastle 4 Cardiff 1 - United score three times in the last eight minutes to break the stubborn resistance of the Welshmen who have given them two tough games. Mather admits "you gave us a real shock and I have not had such a big fright this season".
27/01 - Club officials dispose of the 4,000 reserved seats for the Fourth Round Tie with Preston in only forty-five minutes. Some 2,000 postal applications (many from Scotland) have to be returned.
28/01 - D2: Southampton 0 Newcastle 0 - The wing men excel, but the inside and centre-forwards make little headway against an experimental Southampton defence. It is a hard fought game in which United play well, but disappoint upfront.
01/02 - The United directorate gave permission for collections to be made on behalf of the JS Relief Fund at the match against Cardiff but a paltry £9 14s was raised. Apparently the organisers had recruited 25 unemployed men from Bishopgate House and they arrived at St James' at 1pm. However, they were not allowed inside the ground, as they had expected, and were only given permission to collect in the car park. They then asked if they could come into the ground at half-time but were once again refused admission.
04/02 - D2: Newcastle 0 Coventry 4 - United are thrashed at home by their promotion rivals but they have to play two-thirds of the game with ten men after Bowden fractures his cheekbone. The referee is also knocked out during the game as the ball hits him in the jaw; although United continue their attack and score the goal is disallowed.
06/02 - United are not going away for special training for the Cup match on Saturday although they will have a golfing trip to Alnmouth on Wednesday if the weather is favourable.
10/02 - A huge crowd is expected for tomorrow's game and every vehicle of the Newcastle Transport undertaking, Northern General Transport Company and United Auto Services will be in service. LNER will also be running extra relief trains from all over the North.
11/02 - Thousands of Preston supporters arrive by train, motor coach and private car. One of the first to arrive is Britain's championship hitch-hiker Thomas Davis who has not missed a Preston match in years. The journey took him ten hours and the ex-Tynesider immediately went to see Tom Mather to get a ticket (he has never been refused at any ground).
11/02 - FA R5: Newcastle 1 Preston 2 - Newcastle give the cup-holders a tough game but eventually lose out in a game where all three goals are of the soft variety.
15/02 - D2: Nottm. Forest 2 Newcastle 0 - Mooney misses a penalty altogether as United are deservedly beaten by struggling Nottingham.
18/02 - D2: Tranmere 0 Newcastle 3 - The Magpies score three times in ten first-half minutes to comfortably see off the dismal wooden-spoonists.
25/02 - D2: Newcastle 2 West Ham 0 - It is a colourless display from United and a game which falls well below expectations. With calmer finishing United would have won by many more.
01/03 - Newcastle agree terms with New Brighton for the signing of centre-forward Arthur Frost who joined the Third Division club from the army. Mather watched him on Saturday when he scored twice and made one against Rochdale.
01/03 - D2: Newcastle 0 Tottenham 1 - United concede early and lose Clifton for half an hour and despite dominating the play for long periods poor finishing lets them down.
Newcastle sign Arthur Frost after a meeting in a Liverpool hotel. He has scored 18 goals this season. He is believed to have cost a four figure fee with United also believed to have offered New Brighton one of their young reserve players.
03/03 - Swinburne was involved in a motor accident on 12th of November in which a man was injured and later dies. At an inquest at Houghton-le-Spring Swinburne is exonerated from any blame.
04/03 - Bradford City 0 Newcastle 1 - Both sides play well despite the slippery conditions underfoot. Bradford make most chances, but United hit the woodwork twice and Wright scores the winner.
08/03 - Tommy Pearson, who has struggled to get into the first eleven this season, asks for a transfer. Seymour says: "the club will be reluctant to part with such clever a winger, but if the player is dissatisfied it is better that no obstruction be placed in his way".
11/03 - Newcastle 2 Sheff Wed 1 - United are level on points with the Owls so it is a crucial battle. Wednesday are the better side and deservedly take the lead. But Scott equalises after the break and with only three minutes left debutant Frost scores the winner. United are now in a promotion spot.
11/03 - Directors Seymour and Bennie watch the match between Third Lanark and Arbroath where they scout the away side's Carabine and Gould, but despite lengthy discussions the Scots refused to sell either player.
16/03 - It is transfer deadline day and United are believed to be prepared to sell Clifton or Cairns. Sunderland bid unsuccessfully for Cairns last week and have also been put off Clifton by the price. Leicester are also believed to want Clifton.
16/03 - Norwich 1 Newcastle 1 - Second bottom Norwich are the better side in the first period and take the lead, but Clifton equalises just after the break.
16/03 - After the match Seymour meets with Leicester manager Frank Womack and some directors and they reach an agreement for the sale of Clifton. However, the player "has no desire to leave Newcastle" and turns down the move.
18/03 - Fulham 1 Newcastle 1 - United hand on to second place but there are only 4 points separating them from 10th placed Tottenham and they have played more games than any of their promotion rivals.
25/03 - Newcastle 2 Blackburn 2 - The Magpies make a great start against the leaders and are 2-0 ahead after only six minutes; however, mistakes allow Rovers to pull level before the break. United are one point ahead of third placed Wednesday, however they have three games in hand.
29/03 - United had offered amateur Alan Gilholme professional forms but he has turned them down. Having matriculated he has obtained a position in an insurance office and his employers would prefer that he remains an amateur.
30/03 - The club state that they have earmarked £20,000 to spend on new players if they achieve promotion.
01/04 - Millwall 1 Newcastle 1 - Bowden becomes the fourth player to be used at centre-forward in the last four games. United once again struggle and have to come from behind with Cairns grabbing the equaliser. Sheffield Wednesday win and move above United; as the Owls still have three games in hand they are looking clear favourites to grab the second promotion slot.
07/04 - Chesterfield 2 Newcastle 0
Chesterfield are still in with a chance of promotion themselves and the match attracts a record attendance at Saltergate. Before the game one of the home club's directors makes an appeal to the crowd to sign up for National Service. In a thrilling first period the home side score twice and with both sides tiring in the warm sun there is no way back for the Magpies. United lack method and their marksmanship is only occasionally impressive.
07/04 - Fifty Norwegian fans come across to Tyneside on the Vega to see the home match against Manchester City. More were due to come but there have been lots of cancellations due to the deteriorating situation in Europe.
08/04 - Newcastle 0 Man. City 2 - Although United attack determinedly they are let down by weak finishing and City, who play the better football, deservedly win. The Magpies drop to 7th and all hope of promotion is gone.
United announce their retained list. Carver, Rogers, Garnham, Dobson, White, Isaac, Drake and Brown are all to be released; the former three are the only ones to have seen first-team action.
15/04 - Bury 1 Newcastle 1 - After a bright start by United the Shakers take control and the lead; Ancell's free-kick earns a point with 12 minutes left.
20/04 - Jesse Carver moves to Bury. He requested a transfer earlier in the season due to his wife's poor health.
22/04 - Newcastle 1 Swansea 2 - With the aid of a strong wind in the first half United attack strongly but their finishing leaves a lot to be desired. With the sides reversed Swansea (who are not yet safe from relegation) come more into the game and pick up two valuable points.
29/04 - Newcastle 2 Luton 0 - The visitors still have an outside chance of promotion and both teams play open tactics. United win their first game since mid-March.
01/05 - Ben: York 1 Newcastle 3 - The game is a benefit for centre-half Wass but his game starts badly when - within minutes of the start - he misjudges the strength of the wind and his attempted back-pass ends up as a goal.
05/05 - Ehud Rogers joins Swansea. He came to Newcastle in June 1936. Capped as a Welsh amateur international.
06/05 - Ben: Barnsley 4 Newcastle 1 - Barnsley finished as champions of the Northern Section of Division 3. It is a benefit for Asquith and he scores a first-half hat-trick.
08/05 - Ben: Grimsby 3 Newcastle 2 - Former Grimsby and United star "Tich" Appleyard kicks-off the Hospital Cup game at Blundell Park. Both sides give it a go and Newcastle lead 2-1 at the break but the home side fight back to win.
18/05 - Derby agree terms with United for the purchase of Cairns, however the player turns down the move. United are also believed to be prepared to sell Clifton.
Isaac moves to Brighton.
30/05 - United sign outside-right David Hamilton of Swawfield Juniors.